Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Jonathan Safran, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Chippewa County, Wisconsin, Raymond Knez was sentenced to a 9 month jail term for shooting 6 pets to death in front of children causing mental harm to the children. News report indicate that Mr. Knez was drinking before he got his gun and started shooting pets around the house. Mr. Knez pleaded no contest to the charges and admitted to reporters that it was a stupid drunken reaction to the situation. Chrystalyn Adcock, Knez’s girlfriend, was sentenced to 50 hours of community service.
The website Craigslist.com in Atlanta is under investigation by law enforcement agencies for its use as a child prostitution site. A non-profit child advocacy organization claims that in February, 2009, 176 girls were advertised on Craigslist in Atlanta, Georgia. The FBI has filed charges against two individuals for taking nude photographs of a 17 year old girl and then uploading them onto Craigslist. According to the FBI charges, the two individuals who were charged worked for two days as a prostitute, providing her earnings to the two individuals who have since been charged.
An Erie Pennsylvania woman, who was guardian of a baby girl who swallowed crack, has been arrested and charged with child endangerment. Roxane Robinson had the legal responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of a 1 year old child. Unfortunately, Ms. Robinson failed in these responsibilities. Police reported that a 1 year old child was transported to Hamot Medical Center after being found to be unconscious after having seizures. Doctors later found cocaine in the child’s system.
In Buckeye, Arizona, prosecutors have filed indictment charges against Pastor Charles Carfrey. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has charged the Pastor with sexual exploitation of a minor, failure to register as a sex offender and kidnapping. Charles Carfrey worked as the pastor of The Lord’s House Church. The Pastor pleaded not guilty on these serious criminal offenses.
In Maine and other states, many sexual offenders and child predators leave many victims with permanent psychological and physical injuries until they get caught. Even after getting caught and serving prison time, many offenders re-offend and harm even more victims. In Lewiston, Maine, Joshua Whitlock was recently arrested and charged with with sexual assault including crimes against children under the age of 12 years old. At the time of the recent arrest, Mr. Whitlock was on probation and was a registered sex offender.
An Euclid, Ohio dad has been arrested for several criminal charges including child endangerment, attempted murder and assault on a firefighter. Sammy G. Hunter, Jr. faces these serious criminal charges from incidents that took place at his home. It was reported that Mr. Hunter got high, turned on his oven, and tried to shove his son inside the oven. The baby’s mother stopped Mr. Hunter from doing this. Mr. Hunter then tried to start a fire in the home that had a natural gas line. Firefighters responded to the scene. Then, Mr. Hunter assaulted firefighters. Of course, Mr. Hunter was arrested for these allegations. He pled not guilty to the charges.
In Kentucky, working parents put children in day care for proper supervision and education during the work day. Parents expect that day care workers will properly watch the children and insure that the children are kept out of harm’s way. In particular, day care workers should supervise children within the day care center and make sure that children do not wander or get out of the facility. The Little Angels Day Care Center in Mayfield, Kentucky was recently fined by the State of Kentucky after an investigation was conducted regarding a 2 year old who was found wandering outside of the facility unescorted and alone on or near a busy street. This day care center had prior incidents of children wandering outside of the day care center in the past as well.
In Iowa and other states, a sex offender database has been established to keep track of sex offenders, child predators, and others who have been convicted of crimes that pose a risk too others and especially children. Iowa requires registration for all individuals who have been convicted or adjudicated of a criminal offense against a minor, a crime of sexual exploitation, or a sexually violent crime on or after July 1, 1995. The registry allows citizens and residents in Iowa to access this important information and take necessary precautions that parents and others deem fit to protect themselves and their children.
In Harrisburg, Illinois, the criminal trial of a day care worker will be heading to trial in July 2009. Christi Bailey, age 28, is accused of punishing children in the Illinois day care center by putting hot sauce on their tongues when the children misbehaved. Bailey is also charged with counts of assault and battery for slamming a child into a wall and dragging another child into an office. Ms. bailey faces a total of 7 criminal counts for her alleged improper care and abuse of the childrenin a Harrisburg, Illinois day care center.